ARSONISTS are thought to be responsible for a fire which destroyed seven boats at Port Medway Marina at Cuxton, near Rochester, today.

The blaze started on one of the boats in the early hours and quickly spread to the others.

But for the prompt action of an electrician installing security cameras at the marina at the time, it could have been much worse. John Gallagher spotted the blazed on a monitor and quickly alerted the fire brigade.

The owner of the boatyard, David Taylor, said that in cash terms, the boats were worth a total of only a few thousand pounds.

But he stressed: "They are labours of love for the people working on them. One man had been restoring his craft for about 14 years. This will be a devastating blow to him."

All of the boats were wooden, and were on the shore to be worked on.

Crime investigators are examining the burned out hulks of the damaged craft together with an investigator from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Sub officer Martin Simmons said: "It looks like the fire started in one of the boats and spread to the rest. The boats were empty at the time and no one was in any danger."